Back sailing after a long winter

[SteveKos]

Hello all. It's been awhile since I've been here. We are just emerging from a long and (for us) cold winter. Certainly not ideal for sailing anyway.

I took Aquabat out for a post winter leg-stretch on Friday, and it was nice to get out on the water again!

Now for a question. I'm considering options for increasing the sail area. Mine is a cat-rigg design but I use a Leg-o-mutton sprit sail. I just love the simplicity and ease of use of that sail. However, I went conservative on the sail area for the first sail. Now I am looking at adding some sail area.

I think I have a few options:

- Make a longer mast and get a larger sail of either the same style or more of a genuine cat design.

- Stay with the same mast and buy a larger sail with a longer foot. (This will add sail with only a slight increase in heel with the same wind speed). My modified mast step can compensate for the increase in weather-helm by raking it a bit forward).

- Modify the boat to include another mast step and foot mount to bring the mast further to the aft and convert it to a sloop. (I believe this has been done before, so I am sure I can get help with this here).

- Add a mizzen mast. I haven't seen details of how this can be done but I am intrigued by this otion.

Any thoughts?

Cheers, Steve.

[ecgossett]

Call Carla, order the larger mast kit, with the larger flat topped sails with additional roach.

 

The sail size was chosen so when a potential newbie takes out the boat in 15-20knot winds he won't capsize. Now that you've had the boat for a while go for the larger size.

 

I will tell you with my new B&B sails I had to relearn how the boat handled. She initially seemed a lot more tender under sail.

[Peter HK]

Hi Steve

I see you have a spindrift 11.

For my 2c worth the easiest option is likely to be a new battened sail with a lot of roach. Possibly the most boring and reliable option. Depending on your mast you might be able to convert to a lug of some sort (standing or balanced come to mind). These can carry a lot of area and maintaining the COE where it needs to be would be quite easy. The quadrilateral sails have a lot of power off the breeze but are not so good to windward. I have a Welford golden bay dinghy with a standing lug and sprit boom and it sails quite nicely.

I thought about adding a mizzen on the GB dinghy, mounted at the transom with a boomkin but in the end felt that there would be too much clutter for a small boat. Likewise a sloop might be too many things to worry about but it's certainly possible especially with a roller furling and self tacking jib.

I'd probably go with option one.

Cheers

Peter HK